MEETING IN A BOX LGBTQ+ Pride MonthFor All Employees lazyllama/Shutterstock.co, ride Month takes place in June to celebrate the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and related (LGBTQ+) communities, the diversity of identities its members represent and their fight toward equal rights around the world. During this time, we spotlight and pay homage to the Psuccesses of LGBTQ+ people, the injustices they’ve overcome and their continued efforts to make the world a safe and welcoming place for every person to be themselves. In this Meeting in a Box, we provide a timeline of LGBTQ+ history in the U.S. and facts and figures outlining demographic, workplace and other information about LGBTQ+ Americans. We also include a company spotlight on DiversityInc’s 2020 Top Companies for LGBTQ+ employees and some examples of initiatives companies have in place to support LGBTQ+ team members. Share this document with your colleagues to further your team’s cultural competence education. © 2020 DiversityInc PAGE 1 LGBTQ+ Pride Month For All Employees MEETING IN A BOX 1 LGBTQ+ PRIDE: TIMELINE The landscape for LGBTQ+ rights and oppenness surrounding various Discussion Questions for Employees sexualities and gender identities has changed dramatically over the past few years, perhaps most notably with the nationwide legalization of same-gender marriage in June 2015. It’s crucial for your workforce to un- ? How can we build an organization of inclusion for LGBTQ+ derstand LGBTQ+ identities to foster an environment where everyone people, regardless of personal beliefs or religious views? feels comfortable and safe being themselves. We recommend you start your employees’ cultural competence lesson by using this timeline, which ? How does intersectionality play into LGBTQ+ issues? How documents LGBTQ+ changemakers, precedent-setting moments and the might an LGBTQ+ person’s experience differ based on race, fight for social and legal equality in the U.S. It’s important to discuss these gender, socio-economic status, culture and ability? changes and be on the forefront of inclusivity in your organization. ? What “firsts” are important to note? Which stand out to you as bringing LGBTQ+ issues into the mainstream and why? 1978 1958 public domain image 2009 image use protected under Fair Use Shutterstock © 2020 DiversityInc PAGE 2 LGBTQ+ Pride Month For All Employees MEETING IN A BOX Timeline 1867 1975 -“Father of the LGBT Movement” Karl-Heinrich Ulrichs is first -Minneapolis becomes first city to pass law protecting to speak out for gay rights. transgender people from discrimination. 1903 1978 -First recorded police raid on gay bathhouse takes place in -Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in New York City. Twelve men are charged with “sodomy.” California, is assassinated. He served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors beginning in 1977 and sponsored 1924 a bill banning discrimination in public accommodations, -Society for Human Rights, first gay rights organization in housing, and employment on the basis of sexual United States, is founded. Police shut it down within a few orientation. He had served in the U.S. Navy in the Korean months. War. -The rainbow flag, first created by artist Gilbert Baker, is first 1945 used as a symbol of gay pride in San Francisco. -The Veterans Benevolent Association, first LGBTQ+ veterans group, is formed. 1979 -The first national gay rights march takes place in 1952 Washington, D.C. in response to Ronald Reagan’s -Transgender actress Christine Jorgensen becomes first imminent presidency, LGBTQ+ intolerance and the recent American to have gender reassignment surgery. assassination of Harvey Milk. 1958 1982 -In first case regarding LGBTQ+ rights, Supreme Court -Wisconsin is the first state to ban discrimination on basis protects First Amendment rights of ONE: The Homosexual of sexual orientation in employment, housing and public Magazine, the first widely-distributed publication for gay accommodations. and lesbian readers. 1983 1966 -U.S. Representative Gerry Studds of Massachusetts -The North American Conference of Homophile becomes first openly gay member of Congress. Organizations is formed to expand coordination among gay rights organizations in the U.S. and alert the mainstream media to gay issues. 1969 -The Stonewall Riots at the Stonewall Inn in New York City 1867 fight back against a police raid of the famed gay bar. These riots gain mainstream national attention for gay rights. 1970 -The first Gay Liberation Day March is held in New York City, and similar events take place in Los Angeles and San Francisco. 1973 -American Psychiatric Association removes “homosexuality” as a mental disorder. 1974 -Kathy Kozachenko (Ann Arbor, Mich., City Council) becomes first openly LGBTQ+ candidate to win elective office in U.S. 1969 public domain image “Stonewall Inn 1969” Diana Davies, copy- right owned by New York Public Library; CC BY-SA 3.0 © 2020 DiversityInc PAGE 3 LGBTQ+ Pride Month For All Employees MEETING IN A BOX 1986 2008 -In Bowers v. Hardwick, Supreme Court upholds Georgia -Diego Sanchez becomes the first transgender staffer on law banning homosexual sex. Capitol Hill. 1988 2009 -The first Two Spirit Gathering, hosted by Minneapolis -President Barack Obama signs law making it a federal Native Americans takes place, honoring LGBTQ+ Native crime to assault someone because of sexual orientation or Americans celebrated as Two Spirits because they have gender identity. both masculine and feminine traits. Richard LaFortune, a -Drag queen RuPaul begins hosting “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Native American LGBTQ+ activist, organizes this meeting. a drag competition television show that brings drag performance into the mainstream. 1993 -“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” allows gays/lesbians to serve in the 2010 military if they remain closeted. -President Obama signs law ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” allowing LGBTQ+ people to serve openly. 1994 -Deborah Batts becomes first openly LGBTQ+ federal judge. 2012 -Seven LGBTQ+ candidates win election into U.S. House 1996 and Senate. One of whom is Mark Takano of California — -In Romer v. Evans, the Supreme Court says gays and the first nonwhite openly gay officeholder. lesbians have same right to be protected against discrimination as non-LGBTQ+ people. 2013 -The Supreme Court strikes down section of DOMA that 1996 denies federal benefits to legally married same-gender -President Bill Clinton signs Defense of Marriage Act couples. (DOMA) into law. It defines marriage as existing exclusively -Department of the Treasury announces that legal between one man and one woman. same-gender marriages will be recognized for federal tax purposes. 1999 -Transgender actress Laverne Cox earns notoriety for her -California becomes first state to legalize domestic role in the hit Netflix series, “Orange Is the New Black.” partnerships for same-gender couples. 2014 2000 -National Basketball Association player Jason Collins -Vermont becomes first state to legalize civil unions for becomes first gay athlete to play in one of the U.S.’s four same-gender couples. major sports leagues. -Clinton declares June Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. 2015 2003 -The Supreme Court legalizes marriage equality -In Lawrence v. Texas, the Supreme Court overturns a 1986 nationwide. ruling and declares anti-sodomy laws unconstitutional. -Boy Scouts of America President Robert Gates lifts ban on gay scout leaders and employees. 2004 -President Obama appoints Raffi Freedman-Gurspan as a -Massachusetts becomes the first state to legalize same-sex staffer, the first transgender person to work in the White marriage. House. 2013 2016 -International Olympic Committee (IOC) no longer requires transgender athletes undergo reassignment surgery to compete. -Eric Fanning is confirmed as secretary of the Army, becoming the first openly gay person to head a United States military branch. -President Obama designates the first-ever monument dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights, the Stonewall National 2012 Monument at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. public domain image via U.S. Congress Mediapunch/Shutterstock © 2020 DiversityInc PAGE 4 LGBTQ+ Pride Month For All Employees MEETING IN A BOX 2017 -D.C. becomes first place in U.S. where residents can choose gender “X” on their driver’s license. -For the first time, a U.S. appeals court rules that federal civil rights law protects LGBTQ+ employees from discrimination in the workplace. -Danica Roem is first openly transgender person elected to Virginia’s legislature; first openly transgender person elected to a state legislature in American history. 2018 -The Pentagon confirms the first openly transgender person has signed a contract to join the military. -Chilean actress and mezzo-soprano singer Daniela Vega becomes first openly transgender person to present at the Academy Awards. 2017 -Democratic U.S. Representative Jared Polis wins the AP/Shutterstock Colorado governor’s race, becoming the nation’s first openly gay man elected governor. 2019 -The Supreme Court allows President Donald Trump’s transgender military ban to go into effect. -Ten openly LGBTQ+ people are sworn in as members of the 116th of Congress — a historic number. -The 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising sparks celebrations and demonstrations during Pride Month. 2020 -For the first time, the 2020 census allows people living in the same household to mark themselves as same-sex partners or spouses. However, it still does not identify how many people in the U.S. identify as gender non-binary. 2016 date 2019 National Parks